A Brother’s Plea: Gal Dalal’s Relentless Fight for His Hostage Brother, Guy Gilboa-Dalal
Gal Dalal’s life has been consumed by a single, agonizing mission for the past 17 months: securing the release of his brother, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Guy was attending the Nova music festival when the unimaginable occurred, and he became one of the many innocent victims seized and taken into Gaza.
For Gal, Guy is not just a name on a poster or a statistic in a news report. He is a cherished brother, a best friend, and a vital part of his life. Gal is determined to remind the world of who Guy is beyond his current status as a hostage and to convey the urgency of bringing him home.
"My brother is the most warm-hearted man I know," Gal shared in an interview with Fox News Digital. "He’s a very, very funny guy. For me, he’s actually my best friend. We share the same interests and hobbies, and we do everything together."
The events of October 7th are forever etched in Gal’s memory. Guy was experiencing his first spiritual festival, and Gal, a more seasoned attendee, joined him and his friends at approximately 6:15 a.m., just minutes before the attacks began.
Gal vividly recalls the moment he arrived at the festival. An excited Guy rushed to greet him with a hug and insisted on taking a selfie for their mother. "That’s the only reason I went there was to watch over him," Gal explained. "And, you know, the fact that I came back without him, I think that’s the worst part of it for me."
Neither brother could have foreseen the terror that was about to unfold. As sirens wailed, signaling incoming rockets, Gal suggested they seek shelter at his apartment. Guy opted to travel with his friends, a decision that would tragically alter the course of his life. Gal estimates that Guy and his friends left the festival grounds approximately 10 minutes later, still largely unaware of the impending danger.
"We [are] used to these alarms. We [are] used to missiles attack, and no one thought it’s going to be a terror attack in this kind of scale," Gal explained, highlighting the grim reality of life in Israel, where rocket attacks are a frequent occurrence.
Safety protocols for rocket attacks are well-established in Israel, with designated timeframes for seeking shelter based on proximity to Gaza. Tragically, many festival attendees sought refuge in roadside shelters, which became death traps. Hamas terrorists targeted these shelters, throwing grenades into the crowded spaces and causing mass casualties.
Outside the festival grounds, Gal found himself stuck in traffic. Soon, he heard the sound of gunfire and spent hours running for his life. He was too far away to return for Guy, but the brothers managed to speak on the phone one last time before Guy was taken hostage.
The Dalal family received the devastating news on October 7th: Guy and his best friend, Evyatar David, had been kidnapped. Hamas released a video confirming their capture, showing them already in Gaza. Two other friends who had accompanied Guy and Evyatar to the festival were killed in the attacks.
Since that horrific day, Gal and his family have dedicated themselves to advocating for the release of all the hostages, with Guy as their primary focus. The emotional toll has been immense.
"I always say that in one hand, we are so tired. We are literally on the edge. This fight is taking so much out of us, and the only thing that we really care about is my brother seeing him again, knowing that he’s well and protecting him. Hug him. Help him to heal. We miss him so much, I miss him so much," Gal shared with raw emotion.
Recently, the Dalal family received a sign of life from Guy, but it was far from reassuring. Guy and Evyatar were forced to participate in a Hamas propaganda video. In the video, they were shown sitting in a van, witnessing the release of other hostages, only to have the door slammed in their faces.
Gal described the video as a cruel reminder of October 7th and a stark illustration of the "psychological torture" endured by the hostages’ families. He believes that his brother and Evyatar are being "starved to death" and expressed deep concern that further delays in negotiations could prove fatal.
"It scares me that this negotiation can take more time, and Guy doesn’t have the time," Gal said.
Despite the despair, Gal clings to hope. He believes that President Donald Trump and the U.S. government have the power to expedite the release of the hostages.
Driven by this conviction, Gal traveled to the U.S. to meet with members of both the Biden and Trump administrations. He said that his meeting with Trump officials felt "different" and that they seemed to understand the urgency of the situation.
"I think that the only one who can really put the pressure and bring these hostages back and make sure that they will return to their families is President Trump and United States as a nation, you have the power of that, the power and the support that we need to make sure the hostages will return and will come back home," Gal stated, pleading for intervention.
Gal Dalal’s story is a testament to the unbreakable bond between brothers and a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict. His tireless advocacy is fueled by love, desperation, and an unwavering belief that his brother can be brought home. He continues to fight, to speak out, and to appeal to anyone who can help bring an end to his family’s nightmare.
